Just two short weeks ago, the Detroit Lions were comfortably sitting atop the NFC north division with a 6-3 record. All-world Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers was out for a few weeks with a broken collar bone, and Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay were next on their schedule. These were both supposed to be very winnable games, and no doubt the Lions and their fans looked forward to being 8-3, with all but a lock on their division. There was much buzz in the Motor City about hosting at least one playoff game -- and maybe even two. "The sky's the limit", the Honolulu blue and faithful proclaimed.
After 50 years of a combination of lackluster ownership, inept front-office personnel, incompetent coaches, bad drafts, bone-headed decisions and plays, and Murphy's Law, you'd think they'd learn. How many times do I have to say it? It's the Lions. Hello? Of COURSE they were going to find a way to drive their followers crazy -- again.. This is what they do. Always have.
But in fairness, other forces have been working against the Lions as well. Pittsburgh had started out the season a very un-Steeler like 2-6, including getting trashed by New England for their 6th loss. Then somehow they started turning it around. They beat Buffalo, no big deal, then the Lions came to town. They would dump the Lions 37-27.
Well, OK. Those things happen in the NFL. A blip on the Lions' radar. They were going home to face the Tampa Bay Bucs, they of the 2-8 record. This should be a piece of cake. Thing is, after starting 0-8, amazingly the Bucs seemed to have turned it around too. They went into Seattle, which is a house of horrors to visiting teams, got ahead 21-0, and barely lost the game at the end. The Bucs would go on to win their next two contests. A little momentum was afoot. Then they had to go to Detroit, where they were a 9 point underdog. By now, you know Tampa Bay defeated the Lions 24-21. No, this doesn't put the Bucs back in the playoff picture, but it spoke volumes about the Lions.
Could it be that, much like last year, the puddy-tats will pull another el-foldo in November and December? It's certainly possible.
Now at a not-so-impressive 6-5, the Lions will host the Packers on Thanksgiving in a few days. Aaron Rodgers' status for that game remains unknown. Without him, the Pack has been terrible, going 0-3-1 in the interim, with the tie being a game earlier today against the lowly Minnesota Vikings, at home in Cheeserland. Even if Rodgers is cleared to play against Detroit, chances are he'll be rusty. The Lions should be favored in this game as well, with Rodgers, and especially without him. But again, it's the Lions, and their recent record on turkey day at home isn't exactly stellar. In fact, they've lost the last nine in a row. For that matter, the Lions have only won ONE Thanksgiving game since the year 2000, against the very same Green Bay Packers. There's been a lot of November gobble gobble poultry indigestion in Lions land since George W. Bush was first elected President. And how ago does THAT seem?
Here's what I think I know --- the Lions lost a winnable game in Pittsburgh, then came home with a golden opportunity to redeem themselves against the Buccaneers to right their ship. They blew it.
The Green Bay game is quite likely crucial to their chances of even MAKING the playoffs, a given a few short weeks ago. Win it, and they're still very much in the hunt. Lose that one to go 6-6 on a 3 game slide, and their wheels might fall off yet again. Going into Philly the following week is no bargain. Since the Eagles have benched Michael Vick, they seem to be playing some pretty good football under new coach Chip Kelly.
Then the Lions host the Baltimore Ravens and NY Giants -- both teams that started off the season terribly, ala Pittsburgh, but have come to life in recent weeks and are fighting for playoff spots of their own. Neither of these games will be a gimme. Far from it.
However the Lions come out of that gaunlet remains to be seen. They could be anywhere from 10-5, to 6-9, or any number in between. When it comes to the Lions, nobody knows. Anything can happen.
For their finale, they travel to Minnesota. The Vikings have stunk it up all season. But Lions fans might want to ask themselves a Dirty Harryish question. Do you really want to go into Minnesota needing to win that game to get into the playoffs?
Certainly, Lions fans have been disappointed enough over the last half century, but the ultimate question remains....
Do you feel lucky this year?
Well, do you, punk?
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